Wilus (North Penn) named assistant coach for Dartmouth women’s team

Dartmouth women’s head coach Danielle Spencer has announced the hiring of Nicole Price and Mike Wilus (North Penn) as assistant coaches for the upcoming 2017 season.

Price and Wilus are the first two additions to the coaching staff for Spencer since her hiring in August.

“I am so excited to welcome Nicole and Mike to Dartmouth Lacrosse,” Spencer said. “They both stood out in the interview process because of their passion for lacrosse, their diverse playing and coaching experiences and their track record of success as coaches. They are great role models for our players and I am so proud to introduce them to the team.”

Wilus comes to Hanover from Boca Raton, Florida, where he was the associate head coach for the Lynn men’s lacrosse team. In his final season with the Fighting Knights, Wilus and the team earned a spot in the national rankings in six weekly releases, reaching as high as No. 17, while setting a program record for wins (9).

In three years at Lynn, Wilus was responsible for many of the team’s off-field duties, including allocation of budgeted funds, athletic scholarship allotment, equipment orders, planning of team travel and fundraising. Wilus was one of the first staff members to join the program for the inaugural season in 2014, helping build the foundation for the team’s jump to varsity status.

Before Lynn, Wilus spent two seasons at Gwynedd Mercy University (2012-2013), while he also worked toward a master’s degree in education at La Salle. A 2011 graduate of UMass Amherst, he was a four-year member of the Minutemen, helping reach the NCAA Tournament and earn an ECAC Championship in 2009 as well as make it to the final four of the CAA Tournament in 2010 and 2011. UMass also claimed the New England Championship in Wilus’ senior season as well.

“Mike comes from a family of coaches and his passion for coaching is undeniable,” Dartmouth’s first-year coach remarked. “He helped start the program at Lynn from the ground up and bring that program into the national spotlight. His experience on the men’s side of the game will provide unique perspective on our staff and help us stay innovative ahead of the competition.”

Spencer, Price, Wilus and the Big Green get started with the fall ball exhibition season in October, including a home event on Sunday, Oct. 23 with Vermont, Boston University and Holy Cross attending.

Price joins the Big Green staff after spending the last two seasons working at Fresno State in California. The team’s offensive coordinator, Price was responsible for the development of the attack and much of the in-game play calling.

In Fresno’s first six years as a program, the Bulldogs won just eight games total, while claiming nine victories in Price’s two years with the team. In that time, Fresno set nearly every one of the program’s offensive records, increasing scoring dramatically in both 2015 and 2016.

Prior to working with the Bulldogs, Price spent a year as an assistant on the San Diego State sideline (2014) and a season as a graduate assistant coach at her alma mater, Mount St. Mary’s (2013) in Maryland. She was a four-year letterwinner at The Mount where she helped her team to the Northeast Conference Championship as a senior in 2012 and was named to the 2011 all-tournament team as a junior.

“Nicole is an excellent teacher of the game and has made players better in every program she has touched,” Spencer commented. “With her help, Fresno State had their best season in program history and set multiple single-season records. She brings great diversity to our recruiting with the time she has spent on the West Coast.”